ANALYSIS: Salmon Market Continues Upward Swing Amid Supply Constraints

The salmon market continued its upward swing throughout the third week of January. Not completely unprecedented, but somewhat of an anomaly with Lent beginning later this year than what is typical. Much of the rising market is being attributed to a lack of supply from top producing countries of origin, Norway, Chile, and Canada.  

Out of Norway, air capacity constraints continue to hamper product flow into the U.S. market. This coupled with a more active demand out of China leading into Chinese New Year has led to higher offers...

Fish Factor: ASMI Economic Report; Bycatch Task Force Update; Lease Plan Gets Panned

Where do most Alaska fishermen live? Which Alaska region is home to the most fishing boats?

The answers can be found in an easy to read, colorful economic report by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute for 2019/2020 that includes all regions from Ketchikan to Kotzebue.

Many will be surprised to learn that nearly 40% of Alaska’s more than 31,000 fishermen live in the Southcentral towns of Anchorage, Kenai, Cordova, Seward, Homer, Valdez and Whittier. They earn more...

Former ASMI Executive Director Alexa Tonkovich Joins Seafood People

Alexa Tonkovich, the former Executive Director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, has joined Seafood People’s Global Executive Advisors Network (GEAN) as an Executive Partner.

Seafood People is a specialty firm that focuses on executive recruitment, strategy, analysis, project management, communication and design for the seafood industry. GEAN is made up of senior seafood executives with subject matter expertise who partner with Seafood People to execute global projects and client initiatives.

“As we continue to grow our Global Executive Advisors Network, we are excited to add Alexa to our...

JAPAN: Scallop Landing Forecast 289,500 Tons for the New Season, 13% Down from A year Ago

The landing of Okhotsk scallops in the new season, which will start in March this year, is expected to be a little over 10% lower than last year, which was the highest ever.

According to an interview conducted by the Suisan Keizai Shimbun, a Japanese fishery newspaper, from the end of last year to the beginning of the year, the total volume of the current landing prospects (including older scallop capture during fishing ground preparation to remove the predator starfish and excluding...

Northeast Seafood Supplier NAFCO Teams Up With Reusable Packaging Firm Tosca

NAFCO, a seafood supplier out of the northeast has teamed up with Tosca, a company focused on reusable packaging, with NAFCO currently shipping large finfish in Tosca's 6419 crates into over 350 stores located on the East Coast.

Starting this year, Tosca’s smaller 4319 seafood crate will begin shipping in the NAFCO supply chain as well, transporting smaller filets of fish. Tosca noted that NAFCO is the company's first seafood supply partner to head into multiple retail banners, allowing the company to increase its footprint in the seafood market...

Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association Crew Training Program Seeking Applicants 

The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) is seeking applicants for their 2022 Crew Training Program.

With the average Alaska fisherman’s age being over 50, the Crew Training Program was created to provide young people with an opportunity to not only gain experience, but also an understanding of commercial fishing and the importance to coastal communities. 

“With support from numerous funders, we have been fortunate to expand the program to include more boats, crew and communities,” said ALFA Executive Director Lina Behnken. “Our goal is to provide young people with a safe...

Over 3.5 Tons of Salmon Removed in Chile Following Algae Bloom

Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) said 3,550 tons of salmon involved in a mortality event due to an algae bloom in the Aysén region in early January.

Companies impacted by the algae bloom include Blumar SA, Salmones Austral SA, Camanchaca and Aquachile SA and the removal is 100% complete, per Sernapesca. Mowi also began a contingency plan for mass mortality associated with low oxygen.

Mortality has been treated by means of silage systems and removal from the cultivation centers in optimal...

Updated List: Exhibitors Begin Pulling Out of 2022 Seafood Expo North America Show

It’s been two years since COVID-19 began to wreak havoc on the world. Events were canceled, stay at home orders were put in place, and toilet paper disappeared from the shelves. Fortunately in the span of two years we’ve been able to work our way towards a “new normal” that includes vaccinations, masks, and an overwhelming supply of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. But despite the best efforts to stop the spread of the virus, new variants continue to pop up...

Wild Alaska Pollock Nets MSC 2021 Ocean Champion Award

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) was recognized by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for fishery management and sustainability with its 2021 Ocean Champion Award.

The award was presented at the National Fisheries Institute’s Global Seafood Marketing Conference and was created to “reward fisheries and companies engaged with the MSC who demonstrate continued leadership on sustainability above and beyond the MSC Fisheries or Chain of Custody Standards.”

“The MSC US Ocean Champion Award celebrates the accomplishments of companies working toward a healthy ocean and more transparent supply chain...

ANALYSIS: Spanish Octopus Market Unsettled

Pulpo from all major origins, including Spain, Indonesia, and the Philippines have been boasting record highs for most of 2021, noting steady yet firm prices from Q4 2021 into Q1 2022.

Spanish octopus, which sells at a premium to product from Indonesia and the Philippines has collected pricing both above and below the current published quotations reported on January 18, 2022.

Inventories accumulated throughout 2021, when raw material supply into the market was barely adequate in keeping up with an active demand, are higher valued than supply currently entering the marketplace...

Sam Grimley Named Sea Pact’s New Executive Director

Sea Pact, a pre-competitive collaboration of leading North American seafood companies dedicated to driving stewardship and continuous improvement of social, economic, and environmental responsibility throughout the global seafood supply chain, has found their new Executive Director.

Sea Pact announced in early November that they were seeking a new Executive Director who would be responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plans of the organization. Sam Grimley, who has served as a sustainability advisor to Sea Pact since its inception in 2013, will be filling the role...

Northern Wind’s George Kouri Joins NFI Board of Directors

President of New Bedford-based seafood company Northern Wind George Kouri has joined the National Fisheries Institute’s (NFI) Board of Directors.

Northern Wind processes almost 20 million pounds of seafood annually including scallops, fresh and frozen Ahi tuna, lobster, and value-added seafood products.

“For the last two years NFI has been educating policy makers about the importance of not just the men and women who work the water and the chefs who source their catch but the all-important middle of the value chain,” said NFI President John Connelly...

Los Angeles Inspired Poke Concept Sweetfin Nets Investment from International Brand Poke House

Sweetfin has received an investment from fellow poke concept Poke House, a brand with over 75 restaurants in Europe, per qsrmagazine.

Sweetfin is a California-inspired poke concept and Poke House will add to its locations by bumping to 90 total restaurants, with over 80 additional openings set in Europe and the US this year.

According to the publication, Poke House wrapped up 2021 with over $50 million in annual revenues and will help support Sweetfin’s US expansion...

Tijuana Flats Officially Adds Shrimp To The Menu After Testing Seafood At Select Locations

Shrimp is the most popular seafood item in America … and Tijuana Flats is taking note! The Tex-Mex chain, which has over 135 locations throughout Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Indiana, has officially added shrimp to their menu.

“We’ve been testing shrimp on our menu at select locations for several months,” Executive Chef Joel Reynders told QSR Magazine. “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are confident that this product launch will be a guest favorite for years to come.”

The restaurant chain currently...

Department of Commerce Determines Several Alaska Salmon, Crab and Cod Fisheries are Disasters

Tanner crab, Pacific cod and multiple salmon fisheries are certified disasters, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo said today her determination was made at the request of the governor of Alaska. The disasters occurred from 2018 to 2021.

“Helping communities to bounce back from the impacts of fishery disasters is essential, and we are working to ensure there is relief coming for impacted Alaskans,” Raimondo said in a press release...

Russian Pollock Producers Post $400 Million in Losses Due to China Market Closure

The overall losses of Russian pollock producers due to the closure of Chinese ports and market for their supplies amounted to US$400 million although the existed ban allowed them to increase the production of more expensive products - fish fillets and minced meat by at least 1,5 times, according to recent estimates of the Russian Pollock Association.

The restrictions on supplies have been in place for more than a year: in October 2020, China began to close its ports for...

JAPAN: Farm-gate Price of Yellowtail in Kagoshima Hits 1000 yen/kg With Strong Demand

The gate price of farmed yellowtail in major production areas in Kagoshima prefecture rose for the first time in five months. In mid-January, the price in the same production areas rose 100 yen/kg ($.87/kg) from December last year, reaching a four-digit figure of 1,000 yen/kg ($8.75/kg), up 370 yen/kg ($3.23/kg) from the same month of the previous year. Entering January, the number of fish in the farms decreased significantly due to...